7 affordable ways to celebrate Veterans Day

1. Send expired coupons to the troops – Military families can use expired coupons in overseas commissaries for up to six months after the expiration date. Here’s a way to mail your expired coupons to make sure they get overseas to a base. Meanwhile, here are some more great tips for getting involved, and how you can make sure you’re sending the right kinds of coupons.

2. Tell a vet about the SBA initiative – The Veterans Pledge Initiative can help veterans with obtaining loans to start or expand a small business. Potential lending to veterans may result in as much as $475 million in new funding over the next five years, which will be 5% above the existing lending baseline to veterans.

3. Tell them about discounted vacation options – Military members have special ways to save on Disney vacations. ShadesofGreen.org is a special program offered for military personnel and families in partnership with Disney. Discounted lodging at parks starts at $95 a night. Armed Forces Vacation Club is a similar service.

4. Let them know about active duty alerts on their credit files – Military personnel can put a “military fraud alert” on their credit reports. The alerts ensure that credit reporting companies are taking additional steps to verify a person’s identity when applying for credit. The idea is to protect deployed persons from becoming victims of identity theft. The FTC has compiled a helpful guide that details the process of putting an active duty alert on your credit records.

5. Connect them with free financial advice – The certified military counselors at Clearpoint ReConnect can help our fighting men and women create a family budget, start a debt management plan, become a homeowner, avoid foreclosure or just get their finances in order. This service is free and confidential.

6. Let them know how to get their real credit score for free – Active duty personnel and their spouses can see their real FICO score for free online by visiting SaveandInvest.org/military.